The YMP Organizing Team
In Memoriam of Gwen Thompson-Robinow, who passed away in December 2025.
The Township Community Arts Council wishes to acknowledge the founder of the Youth Mentorship Program, Gwen Thompson-Robinow.
A Canadian violinist and member of the Order of Canada, Gwen enjoyed a more than fifty-year career as performer, educator, teacher, and coach. She has nurtured young musicians in her role as professor of violin at Western University, the University of British Columbia, the Vancouver Academy of Music, the University of Manitoba, the University of Victoria, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. She has performed, taught and mentored at summer festivals and string and chamber music workshops across Canada and in the United States. She has acted as concertmaster of Orchestra London, the CBC Chamber Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the Victoria Symphony, as well as leading the Baroque Strings of Vancouver. She has recorded for CBC radio and television, both as soloist and chamber player. Her signature group, “Viveza”, released five internationally successful CDs, and toured throughout Canada, the United States, and Korea. She commissioned Vancouver composer Stephen Chatman to write a work for violin and cello, “From Pent-up Aching Rivers”, which had its premiere in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall.
Since moving to Esquimalt BC, Ms. Thompson-Robinow continued performing, giving master classes and workshops, as well as mentoring a select number of talented violinists. Gwen became a board member of the Township Community Arts Council, where her dream of founding this Youth Mentorship Program became a reality. She created the popular series of house concerts, Township Classics at the Wardroom, CFB Esquimalt which raises funds for this program. The Youth Mentorship Program has helped many students receive mentorship, education and the valuable experience of attending local concerts with local professional orchestras and companies, on full scholarship.
Gwen authored her book, “The Embodied Violinist: Teaching Violin with Passion and Practicality”. The book presents a distillation of violinistic techniques and musical philosophies which she inherited from her teachers and mentors, focused and refined through her own experience. It will be of value to every teacher who wants to build their teaching on a compelling historical foundation.
Ms. Thompson-Robinow was supported in her efforts and passions by her husband, Dr. Oliver Robinow and their two adult children, Richard and Elizabeth.
The Township Community Arts Council wishes to acknowledge the founder of the Youth Mentorship Program, Gwen Thompson-Robinow.
A Canadian violinist and member of the Order of Canada, Gwen enjoyed a more than fifty-year career as performer, educator, teacher, and coach. She has nurtured young musicians in her role as professor of violin at Western University, the University of British Columbia, the Vancouver Academy of Music, the University of Manitoba, the University of Victoria, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. She has performed, taught and mentored at summer festivals and string and chamber music workshops across Canada and in the United States. She has acted as concertmaster of Orchestra London, the CBC Chamber Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the Victoria Symphony, as well as leading the Baroque Strings of Vancouver. She has recorded for CBC radio and television, both as soloist and chamber player. Her signature group, “Viveza”, released five internationally successful CDs, and toured throughout Canada, the United States, and Korea. She commissioned Vancouver composer Stephen Chatman to write a work for violin and cello, “From Pent-up Aching Rivers”, which had its premiere in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall.
Since moving to Esquimalt BC, Ms. Thompson-Robinow continued performing, giving master classes and workshops, as well as mentoring a select number of talented violinists. Gwen became a board member of the Township Community Arts Council, where her dream of founding this Youth Mentorship Program became a reality. She created the popular series of house concerts, Township Classics at the Wardroom, CFB Esquimalt which raises funds for this program. The Youth Mentorship Program has helped many students receive mentorship, education and the valuable experience of attending local concerts with local professional orchestras and companies, on full scholarship.
Gwen authored her book, “The Embodied Violinist: Teaching Violin with Passion and Practicality”. The book presents a distillation of violinistic techniques and musical philosophies which she inherited from her teachers and mentors, focused and refined through her own experience. It will be of value to every teacher who wants to build their teaching on a compelling historical foundation.
Ms. Thompson-Robinow was supported in her efforts and passions by her husband, Dr. Oliver Robinow and their two adult children, Richard and Elizabeth.
In Memoriam for Rick Underwood, who passed away in May of 2025.
Rick was a founding member of the Youth Mentorship Program with Gwen Thompson-Robinow and Anna van der Hooft when it was initiated in 2015. The program is a part of the Esquimalt Township Community Arts Council, and has provided private lessons, workshops and concerts for young musicians in the greater Victoria area.
Before his retirement, Rick Underwood taught general music, band, choir and strings in the Greater Victoria School District for thirty-three years and was Music Director for dozens of musical productions in a number of schools and was the Career Preparation Program Classical and Contemporary Music facilitator at Esquimalt High School.
Rick’s community involvement included work with the Victoria Theatre Guild, the Victoria Operatic Society, the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival Association and the Greater Victoria Concert Band.
Rick’s vast knowledge, community connections and love of bringing music to young people will be greatly missed.
Rick was a founding member of the Youth Mentorship Program with Gwen Thompson-Robinow and Anna van der Hooft when it was initiated in 2015. The program is a part of the Esquimalt Township Community Arts Council, and has provided private lessons, workshops and concerts for young musicians in the greater Victoria area.
Before his retirement, Rick Underwood taught general music, band, choir and strings in the Greater Victoria School District for thirty-three years and was Music Director for dozens of musical productions in a number of schools and was the Career Preparation Program Classical and Contemporary Music facilitator at Esquimalt High School.
Rick’s community involvement included work with the Victoria Theatre Guild, the Victoria Operatic Society, the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival Association and the Greater Victoria Concert Band.
Rick’s vast knowledge, community connections and love of bringing music to young people will be greatly missed.
Kelly Montgomery was a school band director for 30 years and currently enjoying retirement. As a former Colquitz Middle school teacher, she started the first Middle School marching band and regularly had 100 students performing in the Buccaneer Days Parade. Over her 30 years, she has taught in Port Alberni, Edmonton, Prince George and Victoria. In 2018 she was honoured to receive the BCMEA Outstanding Music Educator Award for Middle School. Mrs Montgomery has led 2 adult beginning band ensembles in Prince George and Victoria and plays in a community band with her husband. She has worked with the Youth Mentorship Program for 8 years and is always astounded by the community’s willingness to mentor our students.
Marianne Ing is a performing trumpet player, teacher and clinician. She has performed with the Vancouver Symphony, Vancouver Opera Orchestra, Palm Court Light Orchestra, Victoria Jazz Orchestra, VOS, Victoria Philharmonic Choir and Victoria Chamber Orchestra. She currently plays often with the Victoria Symphony, Sooke Philharmonic, Don Leppard Jazz Orchestra and Meridiem Ensemble. Marianne has been teaching private students since her teens and recently retired from being a middle school educator.
The TCAC wishes to recognize founding member Anna van der Hooft. She is now taking some important time off to raise her family.
"[Possessing] a lovely voice, artistry in spades and a delightful stage presence"(Music in Victoria), soprano Anna van der Hooft has been recognized for her work in musical theatre, concert and opera, performing repertoire from Bach to Boechler. Anna is a graduate of the UBC Opera Bachelors of Music Program, completing her Masters at UVic in Voice Performance.
Anna is a versatile performer, with singing, acting and dancing credits in a wide range of productions. Some past roles include Hero (Beatrice and Benedict), Despina (Cosi fan tutte), Papagena (The Magic Flute), Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro), Naomi (Cendrillon), Tracey (Blisskrieg), Belle (Beauty’s Beast) and Lucy (The Telephone). Most recently Anna sang the role of Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone with Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre.
Anna is also a passionate advocate for music education and has been a member of The Youth Mentorship Committee since its creation six years ago. Anna is on faculty at Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People where she teaches voice performance and enjoys adjudicating and both musical theatre and classical voice festivals.
"[Possessing] a lovely voice, artistry in spades and a delightful stage presence"(Music in Victoria), soprano Anna van der Hooft has been recognized for her work in musical theatre, concert and opera, performing repertoire from Bach to Boechler. Anna is a graduate of the UBC Opera Bachelors of Music Program, completing her Masters at UVic in Voice Performance.
Anna is a versatile performer, with singing, acting and dancing credits in a wide range of productions. Some past roles include Hero (Beatrice and Benedict), Despina (Cosi fan tutte), Papagena (The Magic Flute), Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro), Naomi (Cendrillon), Tracey (Blisskrieg), Belle (Beauty’s Beast) and Lucy (The Telephone). Most recently Anna sang the role of Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone with Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre.
Anna is also a passionate advocate for music education and has been a member of The Youth Mentorship Committee since its creation six years ago. Anna is on faculty at Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People where she teaches voice performance and enjoys adjudicating and both musical theatre and classical voice festivals.